Trunk-top construction



June 15 1926.

v G. H. WHEARY TRUNK TOP CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 27, 1921 N V EN TOR.

Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HENRY WHEABY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO WHEARY-BURGE TRUNK COMPANY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 0]! WISCONSIN.

TRUNK-TOP CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed December 27, 1921.

This invention relates to improvements in trunk top construction, more particularly adapted for wardrobe trunks.

W ardrobe trunks of the better class are formed of two sections hinged together along their vertical edges and are moved horizontally to open or closed position. One of the sections is usually provided with slidable drawers and the other section is provided with garment hangers slidably mounted upon tracks positioned in the upper portion of said section. In order to permit easy access to the hangers and the garments thereon, the upper end of the garment section close to the top is open and provided with a hinged top cover. Trunks of this type are referably formed with rounded edges and iieretofore considerable diiiiculty has been experienced in securely fastening the pieces of wood forming the side flanges of the end cover to the top portion of the cover. These side flange pieces are comparatively thin due to the fact that they overlap the trunk collar extending upwardly from the open end of the trunk. 1

The rounding of the corner edges removes considerable wood at the joints and this further lessens the strength of the joints, and the side flange portions cannot be increased in thickness to increase the strength without decreasing the width of the collar and the garment hanger space in the garment section.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to overcome the before mentioned objectionable features and provide a trunk top construction in which the use of wooden side flanges on a hinged trunk top is eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trunk top construction in which a metal strip is used in forming the cover flange and is curved to form the rounded corner edge.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trunk top construction having metal side flanges constructed to form a rigid connection with the top portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trunk top which is of simple con struction, is strong and durable and is well adapted for the purpose described.

With the above and other objects in view,

Serial No. 525,023.

' omitted;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4- is a side view of a flange band portion showing corner construction.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates the body portion of the wardrobe section of a trunk and 6 the top cover thereof. The top cover 6 is preferably formed of wood and is comparatively of greater thick ness than the thickness of the body portion of the trunk section to permit the formation of the outer quarter round edge portion 7 of considerable curvature.

An edge flange strip 8 extends around the edge of the cover part 6 and depends downwardly therefrom to form side flange portions 9 which overlap the upper edge portions 5 of the trunk section. At the cover corners the upper portions are formed with V-shaped notches 10 terminating at the apex of the V with a rectangular cut out portion 11 to permit the curving over of the upper flange portions 12 of the strip at right angles in cross section to the lower portion 9 and to form a miter joint 13 at the abutting edges of the upper portion of the strip.

The upper flanges 12 are secured to the top 6 by rivets 14 which extend through the flanges and the top 6.

In order to fasten. the side flanges 9 to the bottom portion of the top, ears 15 are cut out of the flange portions adjacent the corners and are bent inwardly at right angles, as indicated in Fig. 3, to come just beneath the lower surface of the top and are firmly connected to the top by split rivets 16 which extend through the ears and into the top.

Corner fixtures 17 mounted on the corners of the top cover the V-shaped and the car openings in the strip or band and reinforce the same. Said fixtures are connected to the top and the strip by rivets 18.

The upper edge portion of the body may also be provided with a reinforcing band 19 if desired.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the trunk top construction is of very simple construction and permits a round edge construction while eliminating the weakness common in the ordinary constructions.

What 1 claim as my invention is:

1. A trunk top construction, comprising a trunk section having an open top, a top member hinged thereto and having upper rounded edge portions, and astrip of metal curved medially transversely to form right angularly extending side portions, said curved p rtion engaging the rounded edge portions of the to member with one side portion of the strip fastened to the upper surface of the top member and the other side port-ion extending downwardly below the plane of the lower surface of the top member to overlap the outer sides of the upper edge portions of the trunk section, ears being formed in the last mentioned side portion which extend beneath the cover mem her and are connected thereto.

2. A trunk top construction, comprising a trunk section having an open top, a top member hinged thereto and having,- upper rounded edge portions, a strip of metal curved medially transversely to form right angularly extending side portions, said curved portion engaging the rounded edge portions of the top member with one side portion of the strip fastened to the upper surface of the top member and the other side portionextending downwardly below the plane of the lower surface oi? the top member to overlap the outer sides of the upper edge portions of the trunk section, ears being; formed in the last n'ientioned side portion adjacent the corners of the top member, which extend beneath the cover memher and are connected thereto, and corner fixtures covering the portions of the strip from which the ears are formed.

3. A metal strip for a trunk top member consisting of a strip of metal rounded transversely to form right angularly extending side portions, aid strip also having V- shaped notches to permit bending the strip at right angles to form corner portions, said strip also having inwardly extending ears cut and formed from the side portions of tne strip adjacent the corner portions, said ears positioned to extend beneath the part to which the strip is attached and having eyes for receiving attaching means therethrough.

A trunk top construction, con'iprising a trunk section having an open top, a top member of rectangular shape hinged thereto, and a strip 0t metal curved medially transversely to form right angularly extending side portions one of which extends over the upper side of the top member and the other of which extends downwardly to overlap the out-er sides of the upper edge portions of the trunk section, portions of said strip being iotched to form corners to lit the corners of the top member and other portions of the strip adjacent the notch being formed with cars which extend beneath the top member, corner fixtures extending over the notch and cared portions of the strip, and rivets connecting the upper side portion and the ears and the corner fixtures to the top members.

In testimony whereof, I my signature.

GEGRGE HENRY VVHEABY.

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